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Monday, July 03, 2006

London recommendations, anyone?

On Thursday, Per and I are heading to London for a long weekend. I've been in London several times before, but it's Per's first time, and we're both very excited. We'll be doing a lot of traditional touristing - The Tower of London, HMS Belfast, St. Pauls, Westminster Abbey, the Sherlock Holmes Museum and possibly London Zoo and the Imperial War Museum are all on our to-try-and-see list. We'll see how much we get done. Anyway.

What we don't really have planned is what to eat. So now I turn to you, dear readers. If you have any London recs - especially for food (or shopping - food-related would be fun, I know where to find clothes) I'd love to hear them. What shouldn't we miss? We're not planning on anything fancy - our travel budget won't quite allow it.

Please Anne, whatever you do, do not miss out on the Borough Market. It's on Friday's, Saturday's and Sunday's and it's just round the corner from the London Bridge underground stop. It's absolutely mesmerising - and if there's one thing you must do it's to go to the Borough Market. No tat, no cheap leather - all food, glorious food.

I second Borough Market - it is the best food market in London. Marylebone Highstreet is good for food shopping, there is a farmers market there on a Sunday and an excellent cheese shop just off the highstreet on Moxon Street called La Fromagerie, beside arguably the best butcher in town, the Ginger Pig, which also has a stall at Borough.

While you're in that neck of the woods, Selfridges food hall is great and is constantly evolving - you could combine it with a little clothes and kitchen supplies shopping! - and Divertimenti on Marylebone Highstreet is a little pricey but a wonderful kitchen supplies shop that often has classes/demonstrations.

If you're going to the Imperial War Museum, not too far away on The Cut in SE1 is the Anchor and Hope -a fantastic restaurant which uses seasonal ingredients. Also on the same street is Tas, and Ev (same ownership) which is tucked behind Southwark tube and is a great place to sit outside amongst huge pots of flowes and hanging baskets and eat Turkish food at reasonable prices. http://www.tasrestaurant.com

Exmouth Market in Farringdon is a street which has several food shops, including Brindisa for Spanish food, and is home to Moro, a Spanish/Moroccan restaurant where you can dine like Kings whether you have the full blown menu or tapas at the bar.http://www.moro.co.uk/

If it is very hot and dusty and you feel like clearing out your lungs, go on a little trip to Greenwich! It is so nice to walk around in the big park and the little town. As for London resturants we went to an Italian restaurant at Brewer street called La Perla, that was really good!See you tomorrow!

Great suggestions, Lottie! One place I'd recommend, where you might be able to tick a few of the American products off your wish list, is Partridges's. It's a big fancy food place on the Duke of York Square (down Kings Road just off Sloane Square). They have a really good American food section. I always stop in, if just for some Bakers unsweetened Chocolate (for brownies) and Karo corn syrup!

Re Borough Market, I'd get there as early Saturday morning (ie, around 9) as possible, before the hordes descend, and while the stall holders are still fresh and interested in having a bit of a chat with you. Have a great time!

Borough market is a must for foodies.And for a nice meal Otto lenghi (287 upper street is my favourite or kensington or Notting hill branches )would be a great treat.La flaneur (41 farringdon road)another nice cafe restaurant and also deli-dining, you could get food shopping as well.Plus Selfridges and Harvey nichols food halls and fashion labels are amazing.Have a good trip!

This not so much about food but getting around. Make sure you get your London pass before heading to the U.K.It will make life easier for Per and yourself to fully appericate what London has to offer. And Anne don't forget to pickup food stuffs that you can't buy in Sweden.This is the perfect time to get that something you have wanted for a while.

In Swisss Cottage, jubilee line, there is a small but very nice Libyen restaurant called Arabesque. It¨s just around the corner from the station. They have wonderful plates for a good price. While you¨re ther, walk along up to Hampstead Vilage. A 20min walk to a lovely village with nice restaurants and shops. (a bit pricey though)

La Tasca, or something like that, is a spanish tapas bar near Covent garden. They have a chocolate trufle out of this world!

Forget the Zoo! Not worth it.

Also, take a walk through Marylebone Highstreet. ( 3 min from Baker St) Wonderful street with nice shops and restuarants. If you go there, you must go to La Fromagerie. (www.lafromagerie.co.uk) A walk-in cheese shop with a variety of cheeses and bicsuits, and other condiments etc you wont find elsewhere.

Don¨t forget to take a look at http://www.london-eating.co.uk

Avoid all ¨Bella Pasta, Cafe Uno etc¨ terrible food!

Gordon Ramsey, well.. he is said to be one of the best :)Locanda Locatelli, another good italian rest.

Romantic but not too expensive restaurant: Andrew Edmunds on Lexington Street. Amazing cakes: Yauatcha on the corner of Brewer St & Berwick St (plus some very interesting teas). Fun fast food: Leon on Carnaby St. Farmers Market: the one just behind Marylebone High St on a Sunday (10-2): http://www.lfm.org.uk/mary.asp.You might like to visit Neal's Yard Dairy while visiting Borough Market (or the original in Neal's Yard) for a truly whiffy cheese experience: http://www.nealsyarddairy.co.uk/aboutnyd_history.htmlHave a lovely time! Can't wait to see your photos :-)

It's a Russian/Polish restuarant which has fantastic food and a violinist playing wonderful music as you eat and enjoy the ambiance. Make sure you book though, it gets very busy over the weekend.

If you want some very good French cuisine, try "Racine" 239 Brompton Road, London - Tube: South Kensington

It's not cheap, but the food and the service are wonderful.

If you are hungry at lunchtime, and I mean VERY hungry, there is a great sandwich shop just off Bow Lane (near Bank tube station) - It's called Fuzzy's, and they will give you an entire roast dinner in a sandwich - roast chicken/lamb/beef/turkey, stuffing, roast potatoes, carrots, gravy(!), cranberry sauce/horseradish/mint sauce etc...

oxo tower next to waterloo bridge is brill. the bistro is on the 9th floor over looking the thames. and you can sitt outside and take the whole of london in......http://www.oxotower.co.uk/indexIE.html V

Near St Pauls you will find Leon's which is good and healthy - been there personally and enjoyed it. Johanna and Jeanne went to Arbetus in Soho last night. Jeanne raved especially at the cost just £35 for three courses plus wine each. Sounds superb.

I second Wagamamas (fast, cheap, healthy and tasty...mums), Books for cooks and Babylon Beach Blanket (not for the food, which is OK but for the vibe).

Khan's Indian, as mentioned before, is reasonable for their cheap prices. But beware they are famous for their bad service, people go there to be entertained by watching them being rude to other people. Think of the Soup Nazi from Seinfield and you might get the picture.